Issue 1 March 2012

In This Issue: Focus On Energy

Tech Tips ................................................................... 03

Ecohouse ................................................................... 04

Faculty Research ...................................................... 05

Living Tips .................................................................. 07

Sustainability Plan ..................................................... 08

Perspectives: Edinburgh ......................................... 09

Get Involved ...............................................................12

Expressions: Jon Sabraw ..........................................16

09

04

12

Cover Photo:

Ohio University Lausche Heating Plant © Shannon Wise

Ohio University’s leadership made a strong commitment to sustainability by guaranteeing the transition

away from a coal fired power plant on campus and toward more sustainable choices for energy production.

Lausche Coal Plant, pictured on the cover of this issue, is slated to be out of commission as a coal plant by

2015. A Feasibility Study is being conducted by RMF Engineering and select members of the OU faculty,

staff and student body.

The Routes staff will keep a close eye on new developments and offer future articles on the topic.

Minutes from the Lausche Coal Plant Progress meetings can be found online at: http://www.ohio.edu/sustainability/lausche_info.htm

On The Cover

2

From Our Director Countless opportunities

for the promotion of

sustainability at Ohio University

have presented themselves in my

short time as the Director of

Sustainability. I am delighted to

have already had many engaging

discussions with OU

representatives. I have been

struck by the incredible passion

of OU students, faculty and staff as well as the care

expressed by members of our surrounding communities.

This newsletter is just one of the many exciting

changes that we have been nurturing in the Office of Sustainability this year. Upon the formal adoption of the

Sustainability Plan in Summer 2011, it was decided that the

mission, vision and offerings of the Office of Sustainability

needed to be reexamined so as to better align with the

benchmarks identified in that plan. Change is, in my opinion,

one of the most exciting aspects of sustainability. As we

work to provide consistency and health to our environment,

economy and selves, it is essential that we take great care in

adapting to the many changes occurring around us.

The Office of Sustainability is fortunate to have a

team of extraordinary student staff and volunteers working

diligently to meet the demands of our growing institution and

community. They are charged with the difficult tasks of

measuring institutional impacts on the environment,

nurturing personal well-being and inspiring others to

contribute their time and efforts to our local economy.

I encourage (and challenge) you to use this

newsletter and the many resources provided within it to

explore this topic of “sustainability” so that you, too, can

begin to infuse it into the work you do at Ohio University

and beyond.

Sincerely,

Annie Laurie Cadmus Director of Sustainability, Ohio University

Routes Magazine

Director

Annie Laurie Cadmus

Graduate Assistants

Jessica Bilecki* / Outreach

Alex Snyder* / Technical

Mary Leciejewski / Events

Elaine Goetz / Reporting

Penny Morgan / Web

Writers

Maddie Edminister

Emily Kuzmick

Katie Lasco

Jaymie Tighe

Photographers

Shannon Wise

Layout

Neal Patten

*Indicates editors

Produced by the Ohio University

Office of Sustainability

sustainability@ohio.edu facebook.com/SustainableOU

Twitter @SustainableOU

3

Green Tech Alex Snyder I love my car and I’m not ashamed to say it. Taking care of

your vehicle can go a long way in helping the environment

and Earth Garage is there to take you to the next step! From

the start I was amazed with all of the website’s products that

have sustainability in mind. From oil filters to break pads,

Earth Garage seems to have it all. They understand that not

everyone wants to buy the latest hybrid or electric car but

they still want to do their part — with this site you can! Be

sure to check out their Money Saver fuel cost calculator as

well! www.earthgarage.com

One of my favorite news organizations is quickly branching

out! Yes, at times they can be a bit too radical for my taste

but the Huffington Post is always consistent on providing up

to date and newsworthy information. They occasionally

throw in a cute animal picture here and there… but that

makes me love them all the more! Huff Post Green has been

around for awhile but now the organization has expanded to

Facebook — giving each of their website sections its own

page. This lets you tailor what information you want to see

on your news feed! Be sure to “Like” them to receive up to

date news and tips on sustainability!

http://www.facebook.com/HuffPostGreen

Being a conservation photographer, I have to give credit

when credit is due. The International League of

Conservation Photographers deserves such credit. These

amazingly talented photographers travel the world and

document conservation-related issues. Their mission is to

“further environmental and cultural conservation through

ethical photography.”

http://www.facebook.com/conservationphotography

Track energy use at Ohio University! The Ohio

University Building Dashboard displays electricity

consumed by the University in real time. The

Dashboard breaks energy usage down by kilowatt-

hours, carbon emissions and dollars spent every

hour, week, month or year.

http://buildingdashboard.net/ohiou/campus/

4

Ecohouse

Take a moment to stop and think about your

house. What type of fuel is used to generate your

electricity? How about to heat water for your

faucets and shower? Do you know if your power

comes from coal, natural gas, or some other source?

For many of us, energy is an ordinary

comfort that is never in short supply: we flick on the

lights as we walk in the door, expect steaming hot

water when we take a bath, and use kitchen

appliances every day to make coffee or cook food.

No matter where it comes from or how it was

produced, a monthly payment to an electricity

company is all that is required of us to obtain

seemingly endless light. However, fossil fuels are not

an endless resource, and sooner or later (preferably

sooner!), households will have to make a switch to

using less energy and using alternative sources of

energy.

Many homeowners don’t know where to

start. To remedy this, in 2004 Ohio University

made the decision to design and fund an Ecohouse

to provide a model for how a typical house can be

made sustainable. Today, the Ecohouse is home to

three students, and features a variety of devices that

provide sustainable energy

for living:.

A 2.4 kw solar array provides

a large percentage of the

home’s electricity. These

panels cost $23,000, an

investment that will

eventually be returned by

savings in energy bills.

A solar hot water heater uses

the sun’s energy to warm a

water and glycol solution

which in turn provides hot

water to Ecohouse residents.

This is an especially good

investment; its cost of $4,000

can be returned in as little as five years.

A biomass furnace burns wood and corn

pellets to generate heat for chilly winters. This

system is even carbon neutral, as the carbon

sequestered by the trees and corn is roughly equal

to the amount emitted by the furnace.

In addition to generating energy sustainably,

residents of the Ecohouse also save energy through

various practices. By maintaining an organic garden,

less food is purchased from the industrial agriculture

system, which is extremely energy intensive. The

kitchen of the Ecohouse contains all Energy Star

Appliances that

conserve electricity,

such as an energy

efficient

refrigerator,

dishwasher, washing

machine, and dryer.

And residents

decrease their waste by composting food scraps and

recycling. With these practices, the Ecohouse

residents help demonstrate how energy use can be

decreased. So the next time you turn on the TV or

take a shower, think again about the energy being

used. What changes can you make?

Live at the OHIO Ecohouse! If you are an undergraduate or graduate student interested in this

unique living experience for the 2012-2013 academic year, there is still one spot left. For more

information follow the link above.

By Katie Lasco

Photography by Shannon Wise

5

Ohio, Carbon Emissions and Implications

Ohio is currently ranked as the seventh highest energy

consuming state in the country1, and therefore will be

heavily impacted by Federal climate change or carbon

emissions policies. Recently a groundbreaking new report

examining the effects of climate change and carbon

emissions on Ohio’s environment and economy was

published by experts from both Ohio University and The

Ohio State University.

Dr. Scott Miller, the Director of Energy and

Environmental Programs at OU’s Voinovich School of

Leadership and Public Affairs, recently collaborated with

representatives from The Ohio State University to

produce this comprehensive report, Assuring

Competitiveness in a Carbon-Constrained World.

Ohio is heavily reliant on coal, which is a large

contributing factor to our placement as third highest

polluter of carbon dioxide (CO2) due to electricity

generation2 in the nation. This report takes an in-depth

look at the effects greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) have

on our environment and economy, and works towards

realistic, policy-oriented solutions for these issues. While

the actual work is over seven hundred pages long, the

interactive website and executive summary make it easy to

navigate key areas and take away components. The entire

study can be broken down into four major areas of focus

which are summarized on the following page.

After reading through these broken down segments of

the report, we college students might still find ourselves

asking, “How can I make a difference?” It turns out, you do

not have to be an engineer nor a political lobbyist to start

reducing your carbon footprint. Dr. Miller understands

that completely eliminating your carbon footprint is

unrealistic, yet he makes active choices to limit his

pollution, such as driving a Prius and supporting local

farmer’s markets.

“You have to look at your personal behavior

patterns, really seriously take a step back and look at

the amount of electricity you use, the amount of

vehicle miles you travel, the amount of hot water that

you use – there’s a carbon cost to things that we don’t

even think about. Then, once you understand how

carbon intensive your lifestyle is, are you willing to

commit to reducing that?”

While compressing an extensive report like this can be

a very difficult thing to do, Dr. Miller insists that there are

three key points to take away from the project.

1. This is “the most comprehensive assessment

of Ohio’s carbon profile, potential policy

recommendations and the economic

assessment of those potential policy

recommendations that has ever been

done.” Most previous assessments of the climate

have been done on the national level, which fails to

analyze specifically what needs to be done in Ohio

to best suit our environment and economy.

2. We must be realistic about taking on new

legislation and the potential impacts of that

legislation, both positive and negative. Dr. Miller

says, “Those tradeoffs that are going to come as a

result of that climate change legislation are

important to note, they will be costly, but that’s

not necessarily bad.”

3. We must be committed to preserving our

quality of life and therefore, aware of the

harmful pollutants that come with burning fossil

fuels such as coal. “There are social, health and

quality of life impacts that come from a more

sustainable, lower carbon lifestyle.”

In summary, Assuring Competitiveness in a Carbon-

Constrained World is the most comprehensive report to be

published yet on climate change and potential policy

making in the state of Ohio. It has set forth goals and

objectives to aide in actualizing a more sustainable, clean

and efficient environment, economy and society. While

there are many higher, governmental forces at work with

this plan, we must not fail to apply its core concepts to

our own lives. As Dr. Miller says, “Even though this is a

very large and overarching, complex report – at the end of

the day it all comes down to personal behaviors.”

Research Maddie Edminister

Sources from Assuring Ohio’s Competitiveness: Executive Summary

1 U.S. Energy Information Administration. State Energy Data System (SEDS). (2011, June 30). Table C10. Energy Consumption by End-Use Sector, Ranked by State, 2009. Retrieved from http://www.eia.gov/state/seds/hf.jsp?incfile=sep_sum/html/rank_use.html 2 U.S. Energy Information Administration. State Electricity Profiles: Ohio. (2011, April). Table 1. 2009 Summary Statistics (Ohio). Retrieved from http://www.eia.gov/cneaf/electricity/st_profiles/ohio.html

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Research Maddie Edminister

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Before we can work

towards enacting

environmental statutes

that address

greenhouse gas

emissions, we must

first identify the major

sources. The report

focuses on three main

sources of pollution,

“Stationary,” “Mobile,”

and “Area,” each of

which emits gasses in

their own unique

ways. To get a better

handle on the

distribution of these

emissions, an

interactive map that

breaks down the

sources and main

hotspots can be found

at

www.ohioghg.com.

In order for Ohio to

best respond to

Federal policies,

regulations and

legislation, lawmakers,

businesspeople and

citizens alike, need to

fully understand them.

The report thoroughly

reviews U.S. climate

change policies that

affect Ohio. Then,

based on these

policies the report

details potential

resulting risks and

opportunities in Ohio

related to the

following; Ohio’s

large manufacturing

sector, carbon offsets,

carbon capture and

sequestration, current

and potential

renewable energy

resources and

business growth.

New legislation is not

something that should

be enacted frivolously.

To ensure the best

possible laws are

enacted, ones that

seize carbon related

opportunities while

reducing economic,

environmental and

overall health risks,

this report reviews

policies and legislation

in other states. From

these outside

examples assessments

for Ohio are made.

This section provides

Ohio’s lawmakers with

a variety of options

and viewpoints on

environmental

legislation to help

them make the most

informed decisions

possible.

The report developed

the “dynamic energy-

economy policy

simulation” (DEEPS)

tool. This tool

provides models that

demonstrate the

potential impacts of

Greenhouse Gas

legislation on the

environment,

economy and society

as a whole. This is a

key instrument for the

report because it

provides a realistic

view of life after

energy and climate

change restrictions,

with both its positive

and negative impacts.

What is your carbon footprint? Find out at http://www.carbonfootprint.com/

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7

Living Tips 1. When not in use, unplug any appliances, such as your TV, cell

phone and laptop chargers, etc. Turn off your, heater, A/C, and

lights when you leave a room.

Vampires: The U.S. Department of Energy says that in the

average home nearly 75% of all electricity used by electronics is

when they are powered off or in sleep modes!

2. Use Smart Strips which stop energy consumption of appliances

that are left plugged in.

Money Wasted: Lawrence Berkley National Labs estimate the

average home has 40 electronics in a consistent sleep mode.

Turning all these off when not in use would save you an average of

$100 a year!

3. Turn off the water while brushing your teeth! You can save

approximately 3 gallons of water every time you brush if you do.

Wet The Heck: To produce a single barrel of crude oil it takes

1,851 gallons of water!

4. Study in public spaces - the library, a coffee shop, dorm lounge

- that way you are not creating a need for more energy.

Switcheroo: Buy blinds that have one dark side, one light. That

way the dark will soak in sun and heat during winter but the light

side will keep the sun out and cool in summer.

5. Use cold water when you do your laundry. Not only does this

save energy, but you can also wash any color of clothing together in

cold water without colors bleeding.

Sizzler: Washing clothes in hot water wastes more electricity than

leaving the refrigerator door open 24 hours a day for a year!

Photography by Shannon Wise

Eco Reps is a student organization devoted to educating students about ways to “go green.” They put on dorm programs, help

the Office of Sustainability with RecycleMania and ResChallenge, and participate in various Earth Month events.

To Learn More, Contact: Liz Emley - President

8

Sustainability Plan Elaine Geotz

Update on Implementation

After the Ohio University Sustainability Plan (SP) was

approved by President McDavis and the Board of

Trustees in June, 2011, the plan moved into the

implementation phase. The Ecology and Energy

Conservation Committee (EECC), a committee of

faculty and students, serves as the Plan’s monitoring

agent with support from Ohio University’s Office of

Sustainability (OoS). The SP identifies 35

benchmarks for striving towards sustainability at

OU.

Have you ever tried to measure ecological literacy,

carbon emissions from commuters or food waste

and then compiled all this into an overall

sustainability measure? It is not an easy task but that

is exactly what EECC and the Office of Sustainability

are working on. Teams of faculty, students, staff and

community members have suggested strategies for

achieving these benchmarks and now EECC and OoS

are figuring out how to measure, track and report

the outcomes of implemented strategies.

Some major challenges in this process (heads up

future sustainability professionals, you’ll want to

know this!) include: deciding on appropriate metrics,

coordinating who is responsible for working towards

benchmarks when they may involve multiple

departments or operational units, and ensuring that

the workload of faculty/staff is not added to without

appropriate compensation.

With great challenges come great opportunities.

Many benchmarks can be achieved through simple

behavioral changes and small efforts (This is where

you come in. Yes, you.) due to their commonsense

and economical nature.

Be a winner, review the plan. OK, maybe just the

benchmarks, and decide what you will do to help

OU on its path. Also, be on the lookout for the first

Sustainability Report this June, 2012.!

Top 9 Benchmarks

1.Reduce institutional greenhouse gas emissions

across all campuses.

2.Reduce campus and building energy intensity.

3.Increase renewable energy generation and

sourcing.

4.LEED certify new buildings and major renova-

tions on all campuses.

5.Reduce solid waste

6.Institue annual sustainability profile tracking and

assessment process.

7.Increas recycling rates

8.Improve sustainability literacy of students, facul-

ty and staff.

9.Increase enrollment in sustainability-themed

courses, majors, and programs

Special Thanks to individuals, departments and

operating units who proactively began

implementation of the benchmarks immediately.

Ohioalumni.org

9

Perspectives Abroad Travel to Edinburgh, Scotland

Every issue of Routes will feature a different article commenting on the current issue’s topic

from an international perspective. Articles may be written about how the topic applies to

another place, or can communicate perspectives about the U.S. from an international student’s

perspective. Issue 2 will focus on Sustainability and Food. To submit an article email

sustainability@ohio.edu.

Photo: Alex Snyder

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Study Abroad

Last summer I seized the opportunity of a

lifetime to study abroad in Edinburgh, the capitol of

Scotland and one of it’s most progressive cities.

Balancing all things traditional and contemporary, the

city is a blend of rich history and current sustainable

practices.

I lived and attended school at the University

of Edinburgh for five weeks with 14 fellow Ohio

University students. The program, Edinburgh: City

and Environment, touches on urban ecology,

environmental history, and sustainable urban

planning. According to program director Dr. Geoff

Buckley, “With more than half the world’s

population living “urban” already, and the movement

from rural to urban accelerating rapidly, it is

imperative that we design our new cities, and

retrofit our old ones, so that they are more efficient,

just and livable places.”

Edinburgh has a reputation as a leader in the

worldwide effort to transform cities into “green”

cities. With this reputation, I made observations of

the polarity between Edinburgh and Athens, Ohio.

What I noticed most were the city’s achievements

in transportation, importance of green space, energy

consumption, and recycling amenities.

The first thing I found remarkable about

Edinburgh was the city’s public transportation

system which everyone uses because of its

affordability and efficiency. Bus routes that extend

into the surrounding suburbs help decrease urban

congestion. In addition, Edinburgh is currently

installing an electric tram system that mimics those

in some of Europe’s other progressive cities such as

Amsterdam. With gasoline rising to almost £4.50 or

$9 a gallon, Edinburgh’s efforts to minimize cars on

roadways relieves financial burden’s at the pump, and

has a positive effect on the environment.

When I wasn’t taking the bus every where, I

was walking. The importance of parks and other

recreational green space is apparent in Scotland.

When I say “green space”, I really mean everything

was lush and green! Not only does urban ecology

add aesthetics to a bustling city, but it creates a

Photo: Alex Snyder

Jaymie Tighe

Photography by Alex Snyder

Photo courtesy of Jaymie Tighe

11

yearning for physical activity, and appreciation for the

beautiful geography the country has to offer. Some of

my favorite “green spaces” were Arthur’s Seat in

Holyrood Park, which overlooked my dorm, and the

Botanical Gardens.

Another concept that differs from U.S. mind

set is energy consumption. Some of the daily

appliances we use in our houses, such as washers,

dryers, dishwashers, etc., are considered a luxury in

the UK. Electrical outlets have the option of being

turned on and off with a switch to help conserve

energy. Living in a different country for a few weeks

definitely shed light on what I take for granted in the

U.S. when it comes to energy. It was amazing to

learn how such a formerly industrious city has

revolutionized itself into a sustainable city.

Recycling is big in Scotland. The city believes

everyone should have the access and opportunity to

recycle, so they have created facilities where the

public can take their items, big or small. Large

itemized metal bins hold refrigerators, TVs, and

whatever else you could possibly think of. The facility

also has created a warehouse to hold gently used

items to donate to various organizations.

My experience studying abroad enlightened

me in many ways. It showed me how other’s live

their lives culturally. I also learned how an extremely

old city could transform itself into one that will be

there for many years to come because of their

progressive sustainability efforts. I got a very unique

perspective on international sustainability that I can

use to my advantage in my future. My time in

Scotland sparked a curiosity in me that I will continue

to pursue.

For more information about studying abroad in

Edinburgh, Scotland see page 12.

Photo: Alex Snyder

Photo: Alex Snyder

12

Get Involved Katie Lasco

Student Organizations Emily Kuzmick

Conscious Ohio is a student group that

works towards raising social and

environmental awareness of our actions.

A large part of the organization is

promoting sustainability by emphasizing

the benefits of buying local and organic.

Their weekly event, Vegan Cooking

Workshop, is a fun opportunity for members to work together

to cook good food. Food that is good for our environment,

our health and our taste buds!

Contact: Halie Cousineau—President

Sierra Student Coalition is a

collaboration of students educating the

OU and Athens community about

today’s environmental issues such as

mountaintop removal coal mining,

fracking, sustainability, and local food.

They participate in Power Vote, a

nationwide campaign to engage one million young voters to use

their voices to support polices that will help build a sustainable

future.

Contact: Camille Scott—President

OU Students Against Fracking is a

coalition of students from various political,

social, and economic backgrounds. They

work with the University to create the

safest possible environment for both

students and community members by

integrating themselves in political activities and educating the

public about the least harmful and most sufficient ways in which

we can preserve our surroundings.

Contact: Camille Scott—President

Courses

Environmental and Science Journalism Class

Professor: Dr. Bernhard Debatin

This spring quarter course provides students with skills of

environmental and science journalism through writing

assignments both conceptual (book chapter responses) and

practical (journal articles), as well as field trips that will provide

first-hand knowledge of regional power plants, abandoned coal

mines, hydraulic fracturing sites, and other environmental

issues. Environmental and Science journalism is an increasingly

important discipline that requires a high level of technical and

scientific understanding and the ability to translate complex

issues into everyday language without oversimplifying. This

special course is not offered on a regular basis.

When: Tu,es. Thur. from 1:10 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

What: Call Number: Jour 492 / Jour 792 (graduate)

Requirements: The course is open to students in the MSES

program and students who want to obtain the Environmental

Studies Certificate.

Study Abroad in Edinburgh

Study cities and the environment in Edinburgh, Scotland, a

progressive city whose history and cultural scene provides the

perfect location for students to spend five weeks studying

environmental history, urban ecology, and sustainability

planning. Along with class instruction and lectures, field trips

and guest speakers will introduce students to key concepts

relating to forest and park management, social and

environmental justice issues, and urban provisioning. The

deadline to apply was March 9th so contact Geoff Buckley

immediately if you are interested.

OU Fracking Forums are being held at each of our six

campuses to gather input from members of the Ohio

University community

• Chillicothe Campus: March 12 – 2 p.m. – Bennett Hall 145

• Southern Campus: March 13 – 2 p.m. – Bowman Auditorium

• Eastern Campus: March 14 – 2 p.m. – Shannon Hall 219

• Lancaster Campus: March 15 – 2 p.m. – Brasee Hall 414

• Zanesville Campus: March 26 – 2 p.m. – Elson Hall 176

• Athens Campus: March 27 – 7 p.m. – Baker University

Center, Baker Theater, Second Floor

Photo: Alex Snyder

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Get Involved cont.

Office of Sustainability

Graduate Assistant Opening

Ohio University’s Office of Sustainability provides services and

support to the campus community; advocates for innovation

and research; and ensures fulfillment of institutional

commitments to environmental, social and economic well-

being. The Graduate Assistant in Sustainability will assist the

Director of Sustainability with communication, education and

outreach programs targeting the campus community and will

coordinate with the campus community to assist with annual

sustainability reporting.

When: 2012 –2013 academic year

Reimbursement: Full tuition waiver, monthly stipend

Contact: sustainability@ohio.edu

Intern or Volunteer

The Office of Sustainability offers volunteer and internship

positions to students in a variety of disciplines, including

communications, marketing, environmental studies, business,

and social media. Develop valuable skills for your future career

and help the Office of Sustainability achieve its mission. To

learn more send an email describing your area(s) of interest to

sustainability@ohio.edu

RecycleMania

OU is currently in the lead (but

not by much!) for this annual

intercollegiate recycling

competition. Last year OU

recycled an average of 39.53% of

total waste, an average of 18.26

pounds per person during

RecycleMania. Help us win the

MAC and beat our old record by

recycling even more these last few

weeks of March!

Residence Challenge

Participate in this annual residence hall competition throughout

April to reduce energy use. Attend weekly programs to learn

what you can do. Every week a different energy related topic

will be highlighted.

April 1—7: Energy Basics

April 8—14: Water & Energy

April 15—21: Materials & Energy

April 22– 28: OU & Athens Energy Use

Ecohouse Community Garden Pilot Program

Want to grow food with methods that are chemical-free and

environmentally sound? The Ecohouse Community Garden

initiative is part of a large movement at Ohio University. In

alignment with the Sustainability Plan, a garden open to the

campus community fosters citizenship, stewardship, and justice.

Gardeners will engage in a healthy lifestyle change, forming

harmonious relationships with the natural world and other

community members. A community garden plot may be

adopted by a student group, a department, or an individual. If

you would like to adopt a plot, fill out the survey at:

www.ohio.edu/sustainability/.

Permaculture Basics for Small Spaces

Think you can’t grow much in small green spaces? Think again.

Learn basic permaculture principles to help you begin designing

productive, low-maintenance and ecologically sound small

spaces. Combining lecture and plenty of hands–on activities,

this is sure to be an engaging learning experience. Space is

limited so register early.

When: April 14th, 15th and 22nd from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Where: The Ridges and OU Ecohouse

Contact: sustainability@ohio.edu

14

Locally

Shagbark Seed & Mill

Intern

Grains and beans are a big

part of a healthy diet but

they are the smallest part

of the local food

movement. For now. We

are looking for student and

community volunteers to

work on public relations

and marketing, sampling,

cooking, doing outreach,

and planning events and

fund raising spring quarter, summer and the 2012-13 school

year. We are looking for all sorts of skills from press/blog

writing to design to event planning, as well as those who are

ready to jump in with helping out at farmers markets and at the

mill. So if you have a big smile and friendly demeanor, come to

our info meeting on Friday April 6 from 2:30-4 pm at Shagbark

Seed & Mill on Columbus Road in Athens (88 Columbus Circle).

For more information write goodfooddirect@gmail.com

Online

Webinar – Help Your Students and Their Employers

Understand How to Grow Green Jobs

Education for green jobs and careers often requires going

beyond the teaching of technological skills and knowledge. A

successful green business employee also needs an understanding

of how to effectively communicate about the green product and

how to help the employer understand and utilize the successful

green business models. This webinar shares concepts, learning

outcomes, and learning activities that can easily be incorporated

into sales, marketing, and business courses.

When: March 22nd from1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Cost: Free!

Register at: http://www.ceret.us/webinar/webinar.php

Conferences

Northeast Ohio Small Farm Conference: Living Your

Small Farm Dream

Enthusiastic to learn about small farming? Developing

productive small farms that source and sell products locally is

very important to transitioning away from industrial agriculture

to a more sustainable system. This intensive conference will give

you the opportunity to choose from 24 different seminars on

topics including organic production, farm management, livestock,

natural resources, horticulture, aquaculture, and more!

When: Saturday, March 31st beginning at 8:30 a.m.

Where: R.G. Drage Career Center in Massillon, OH

Cost: $50.00

Registration: Deadline to register is March 22, 2012.

International Conference on Materials, Energy and

Environment

This conference includes plenary speakers and presentations on

current research topics such as electronic materials,

nanomaterials, zero band-gap materials, and composites.

Breakthroughs in nano-science and technology have to potential

to change aspects of human life such as energy, biomedicine, and

the environment. Additionally, this forum provides a place for

students to engage in discussion with scientists, engineers, and

other professionals.

When: Wednesday, May 9 to Friday, May 11, 2012

Where: Toledo, OH

Cost: Students $150.00 before March 15 and $250.00 after

2012 Behavior Change for a Sustainable World

Be a part of this gathering to learn how basic principles of

behavior change can help in the fight to preserve our

environment. This program will feature prominent figures in

behavior analysis, environmental organizations, business, and

government. Unique interactive brainstorming sessions will also

give conference attendees a unique opportunity to interact with

people with diverse backgrounds interested in environmental

change.

When: Friday, August 3 to Sunday August 5, 2012

Where: Ohio State University, Columbus OH

Cost: Student cost is $175 before June 18

Get Involved cont.

15

Expressions Spotlight on John Sabraw

Every issue of Routes will feature the works of an artist or writer whose work is dedicated

to incorporating sustainability. In this inaugural issue we chose to feature artist John

Sabraw. Sabraw is an Assistant Professor in the Studio Foundations department at Ohio

University. In the following article Sabraw explains how he beautifully integrates

sustainability into his personal and professional life.

Issue 2 will focus on ‘Sustainability and Food’. To submit your creative work and short artist profile email

sustainability@ohio.edu.

16

Expressions Spotlight on John Sabraw

In my efforts to understand environmental

responsibility, it became clear that the first step was

to examine my own art practice as well as my

personal habits. As it turns out, there was and still is

a lot of work to be done in this regard.

In order to promote this green

consciousness within the arts community, as well as

to the public at large, I have engaged in an ongoing

effort to make my work, and other beloved works

of art, carbon neutral.

I started in small ways: reducing usage,

recycling more, being aware of purchasing from fair

trade organizations, etc. Gradually it became clear

to me that my own practice as an artist had to be

examined within the framework of sustainability to

at least begin to clear my conscience before I ask

this of others. This resulted in the

GreenWorldArt.org project, where I examine

methodologies and materials used to create older

works of art as well as my own works of art. This

art making is processed through energy and

resource usage filters and formulas. Eventually, in

consultation with carbon fund.org, I created an

equation whereby artists can reasonably purchase

carbon-offset credits for production of carbon

resulting from of aspects their practice that are not

ameliorated by sustainable efforts.

The work I do now is always in reference to

how sustainable the practice is. The following

images are of my latest body of work “chroma,”

which relates to natural processes in the Earth's

ecosystem as well as an awareness of sustainability

and my efforts towards it. The list of processes also

tells you something about a few of the practices that

I currently engage in my studio to try to better the

sustainability of my own art artistic practice.

About “chroma”

I have a deep and long-standing captivation with

metaphysical and pragmatic concerns regarding our

universe.

My current research focuses on natural phenomena,

the earth’s ecosystem as a whole, and our role with-

in that. This in turn has driven me to incorporate

ever more sustainable practices in my studio, in my

life, and when possible actively engaging the public

on the matter.

In this body of work, painstaking painting methods

are coaxed into interacting and amalgamating over

durations of up to several months. The result is

complex, luminous, mysterious paintings that strike

a beautiful balance between controlled and organic

processes.

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“It strikes me that the single global issue

that I can have the most impact on is

sustainability. Personally, my ultimate

goal is to develop completely sustainable

art product, practice and process.”

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Ways John Uses Sustainable Sources

90% of all wood used is from local sustainable

sources.

Website is powered by wind 100% of water is

from sustainable supply.

Uses water-based, non-toxic materials whenever

possible and appropriate.

Aluminum Composite: John has several sources

for this material and nearly always obtains slightly

damaged or otherwise imperfect pieces, which he

trims to size. This repurposes material that would

otherwise go to landfill.

How John Reduces Consumption:

Uses lightweight Aluminum Composites to cut

down on shipping fuel and decrease need for

additional support materials.

Reduced electricity, natural gas, and water con-

sumption by more than 50% in the past 2 years.

Shifted to far more locally produced and/or sold

materials.

Preserves paints etc. instead of disposing unused

portions.

Recycles solvents and other VOCs.

Offsets what can’t be eliminated.

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“I Want To Change The World...

But I Don’t Know How.”

Join the Ohio University Office of Sustainability!

sustainability@ohio.edu

http://www.ohio.edu/sustainability/

facebook.com/SustainableOU

Twitter: @SustainableOU